Multi Channel Pre vs processor

Has anybody compared the Multi Channel pre's to processors recently? As we see most multi channel pre's are going the way of the dodo bird, my guess would be they don't sound as good as I hoped they would. We built a new house and I have lost my sound only room. So now my system must double as a surround sound and to channel room. I know buy a preamp with a HT pass through. I have never heard a system like that sound great. I was hoping the Audio research MP-1, Parasound P7 or the Bel Canto Pre6 might solve my problems. But it seems the little that I can find written about it comes from several years ago. I wondered if anybody had done the comparison recently.